Edward brice killen



No.A 6I 5,7|5. Pavtented Dec. I37 |898. E. B. KILLEN.

DRIVING BACK FOR CYCLES.

(Application med .my 11, 189s.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Fi e

No. 6|5,7|5. Patented Dec. I3, |898. E. B. KILLEN. DRIVING BACK FCR CYCLES.

(Application filed July 11, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNTTEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD BRICE KILLEN, OF BELFAST,IRELAND.

DRIVING-BACK FOR CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,715, dated December 13, 1898.

Application iiled July 11,1898. Serial No. 6 85,672. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BRICE KILLEN, a snbj ect of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Belfast, in the county of Antrim, Ireland, have invented an Improved Driving- Back for Cycles and such Like, (for which I have iiled an application in Great Britain, No. 11,729, dated May 24, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to driving-backs for velocipedes and such like-that is, tov back rests or supports against which the rider can press at the same time as he operates the pedals or treadles, so as to give additional driving power.

The back constituting the invention is so made that it can be adjusted to any desired angle and can also be easily attached to or detached from the cycle in a few minutes.

In order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon- Figure l is a side view of a part of a cycle, showing the driving-back attached thereto and as being used in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end View of same. Fig. 4 is a side View, partly in section, showing the back being used in the inclined position. Figs. 5 and G are respectively side and end views of a modified form of the back. Fig. 6 is partly in section. Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the hand-lever g of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 8 shows a plan provided with forwardly-projecting arms or their equivalent d, said arms or equivalent being hinged at CZ to the ordinary pin or bolt e, which is lengthened for this purpose and which also tightens the diagonal tube B upon the seat-pillar.

If so desired, the back may ner that by means of this hand-lever the rider -while sitting on the saddle can readily adjust the back with either of his hands to any desired position. The hand-lever g is preferably connected to the strengthening-framework f by means of a pin h or the like. vA pin j is or may be fitted to the backstays A, and this pin ts into any one of a series of notches 7c made on the lower side of the handlever g. With this arrangement of apparatus when the rider desires to alter the angle of the movable back all that requires to be done is to raise the hand-lever g out of the notch lo in which it may be for the time being by either the left or the right hand, and push the lever backward or pull forward, as the case may be, until the framework attains the desired position. When this takes place, the hand-lever g is released and allowed to drop on the pin j, which will immediately enter another of 'the notches k, thereby locking the back in the new position. The whole arrangement is such that by a simple manipulation of the hand-lever the driving-back can be made to assume, at the will of the rider,

many different positions. When being shifted, it turns upon its hinge-pin e.

In order to make the new driving-back suitable for machines in which wheels of larger diameter are used and where the saddle-pillar comes nearer to the wheel, the form shown at Figs. 5, 6, and S may be used. With this arrangement the cross-bar of the framework is bent, as shown at Fig. 6, so as to clear the wheel, and the hand-levers g, of .which there may be two, are pivoted at lz to the lower end of the framework f and work on pins j jz, litted to the back-stays A.

If desired, a spiral or-other spring may be fitted in connection with the hand-lever g in order to facilitate its action when the driving-back is changed from one position to another.

When the back is used, it enables the rider to obtain great additional motive power for IOO driving his cycle by pressing at the same time against'this driving-back and on each pedal or treadle alternately.

It is to be specially noted that this drivingback can be advantageously used on almost all kinds of cycles at present in vogue without altering any important part of the cycles themselves. It must, however, be remembered that in the case of a bicycle the rider cannot mount from behind when the back is fitted to the cycle, so that the ordinary ladys cycle or a low bicycle like the Bantam is the most suitable to which to attach the back. It is specially adapted for any cycle having a frame without the usual horizontal top bar or stay.

The back may be made of wood, metal, or other material or acombination of such material, and it may be made of any suitable size and shape.

Some people when riding lean forward very much on the present cycles; but even in this position the driving-back can be taken full advantage of, as it can always be moved into the right position for the rider to press his back against it.

The addition of this driving-back enables the rider when sitting on the saddle to' get greater speed out of the cycle both on a level and uphill, as with it he is able in driving to acquire and utilize more motive power than at present, and thereby is able to easily drive a much higher-geared machine.

' This driving-back enables any person to acquire and utilize greater motive power, es'- pecially when it is used in conjunction with suitable sliding slides, seesaw-drives, and moving pedals, and it can not only be utilized to drive cycles at a high speed, but it can also be used to drive light easy-running vehicles and small boats.

Having now fully described my invention,- what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-f- 1. The combination with a velocipede or the like, of a driving-back consisting of a frame having its intermediate portion pivotally connected with the cycle-frame, and a handlebar pivotally connected to the lower eXtremity of the back and having a detachable and adjustable connection with the cycle-frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a velocipede, of a driving-back comprising a frame provided with forwardly-projecting arms pivotally connected to the frame ofthe machine,strength ching-braces below said arms, a handle-bar pivotally connected to the lower extremity of said frame and having a toothed portion, and a pin or catch on the frame arranged to be engaged by said teeth, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aiixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDVARD BRICE KILLEN. Witnesses:

JOHN MCQUADE, BERNARD PEAKE. 

